Question: Will more birds go to a bird feeder that is lit up than one that isn't?
Hypothesis: I think it will be around the same amount of birds that go to each bird feeder.
Materials: Time, a bird feeder, lights to put around the bird feeder. Lots of bird seed.
I thought of this question one day while looking out the window. I saw some birds at a bird feeder and thought "I wonder if they would see a bird feeder that was darker?"
Procedure: Put 3 cups of bird seed and put it into bird feeder. Then record how much bird seed is eaten in two days. Then put lights around bird feeder. Refill bird seed. Record how much bird seed is eaten. I set up the bird feeder in a semi shady place next to my house.
.In my research I looked at the most common bird in my yard. The robin. However unfortunately I did not find any research on how photosensitive (Photosensitive means how sensitive they are to light) robins are.
Variables:
Independent variable: Light by the bird feeder.
Dependent variable: Amount of bird seed eaten per day.
Control variable: Type of bird seed, location.
Weather, birds and lights. I intend to change the amount of lights near my bird feeder in the hope that it will change the amount of birds.
Amount of bird seed measured in cups.
Discussion:
It turned out the weather did not make much of a difference. It was sunny weather both times.
My hypothesis was not supported at all. Barely any birds came to the bird feeder when there were lights on it. there where almost 3 times more bird seed eaten daily when there where no lights on as when there where lights. An alternate hypothesis is that all the birds where scared off by the lights.
One thing I might have wanted to do differently is put the bird feeder in a shadier spot. That would have made the bird feeder stand out but not too bright.
Lights and birds.
Question: Will more birds go to a bird feeder that is lit up than one that isn't?Hypothesis: I think it will be around the same amount of birds that go to each bird feeder.
Materials: Time, a bird feeder, lights to put around the bird feeder. Lots of bird seed.
I thought of this question one day while looking out the window. I saw some birds at a bird feeder and thought "I wonder if they would see a bird feeder that was darker?"
Procedure: Put 3 cups of bird seed and put it into bird feeder. Then record how much bird seed is eaten in two days. Then put lights around bird feeder. Refill bird seed. Record how much bird seed is eaten. I set up the bird feeder in a semi shady place next to my house.
.
Variables:
Independent variable: Light by the bird feeder.
Dependent variable: Amount of bird seed eaten per day.
Control variable: Type of bird seed, location.
Weather, birds and lights. I intend to change the amount of lights near my bird feeder in the hope that it will change the amount of birds.
Discussion:
It turned out the weather did not make much of a difference. It was sunny weather both times.
My hypothesis was not supported at all. Barely any birds came to the bird feeder when there were lights on it. there where almost 3 times more bird seed eaten daily when there where no lights on as when there where lights. An alternate hypothesis is that all the birds where scared off by the lights.
One thing I might have wanted to do differently is put the bird feeder in a shadier spot. That would have made the bird feeder stand out but not too bright.
Bibliography: wikipedia.com